Vapor-rectifier system.



G. M. GREEN.

VAPOR RECTIFIER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1905.

Patented Mar. 15,1910.

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Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

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Akll'y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. GREEN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VAPOR-RECTIFIER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

Application filed August 11, 1905. Serial No. 273,805.

To all whom itma'y concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county ofEssex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor-Rectifier Systems, of which the followingis a specification.

In the commercial distribution of electrical energy it is often found desirable to shift thedistributing circuits from one source of power to another without interrupting -the service and it is sometimes found necessary to introduce additional units into the operating 5 stem to meet the varying conditions of loa on the consumption circuits. Such a flexibility in the system is especially desirable when t-he'load consists of a plurality of translating devices operating in series, for the total resistance of a series circuit varies through a wide range as translating devices are introduced or cut out of the clrcuit.

My present invention discloses means for operating a distribution circuit on energy derived from a mercury rectifier and also discloses means "for introducing a second source of power into the consumption circuit towcarrypart or all ofthe load as. occasion may requlre.

My present invention also contemplates an improved system of excitation for mercury rectifiers which is applicable not only to rectifiers used in-' the system hereinafter described, but also to rectifiers and mercury apparatus of various other types, as willbe readily understood bya person skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawing forming part ofthis spedification, Figure 1 shows a plurality of mercury va orrectifiers operated from separate and in ependent sources and provided with means whereby they may be thrown in series, to meet the varying conditions of load which co'mmonly arise 111 series systems of distribution; Fig. 2 shows a compensator connection for the auxiliaryor exciting anodes whereby I a moderate and constant voltage is supplied to these anodes independent of the fluctuations in voltage on the main anodes of the rectifier. Fig. 3

illustrates the-series system using the rectifier unit illustrated in Fig. 2; F 4' is a similar, system with one of the rectl er units replaced by a Brush series are machine.

The mercury rectifier 1 consists of an current flowing from oath evacuated chamber of glass 01' other suitable material, provided with a plurality of carbon anodes 2 and 3 and a mercury cathode 4. Energy is supplied to the tube from a constant current transformer 5 con'lprising a. stationary primary'coil 6 and a floating secondary coil 7. The terminals of the latter are connected respectively to the anodes 2 and 3. The primaryG is excited by current froman alternator 8 driven in any suitable manner and is provided with a central tap 9 connected through a switch 10 and a reactance 11 to the mercury cathode 4. Adj acent to this mercury cathode are two mercury anodes l2 and 13 which operate to produce an initial flow of current through the evacuated chamber, and if desired to maintain the tube continuously conductive for current waves of the proper polarity. These auxiliary anodes l2 and 13 are connected through the switch 10 to the alternator 8.

To start the apparatus the rectifier 2 may .be tilted so that mercury from one of the al xiliary anodes forms a momentary contact with the mercury cathode 4, thus shortcircuiting half of the primary winding 6 and starting a flow of current through the mercury. When this circuit is interrupted by the separation of the mercury electrodes an incipient arc is formed which ionizes the tube or otherwise renders it conductive for current so that a second arc will be established -between the other starting electrodes and the mercur. cathode thereby making the ionization of tie tube continuous. To secure this kindling of one are by another it is necessary that the coil 6 should have considerable inherent reactance so that the current impulses flowing from the auxiliary anodes 12 and 13 may overlap somewhat in phase, thereby giving a small time interval uring which there exists a current flow between one auxiliary anode and the cathode and an effective electro-motive-force between the other anode and the cathode capable of establishing an arc therebetaveen before the preceding arc ceases. The reactance 11 serves to smooth out' irre lariti'es in the e 4 and prevents momentary disturbances inthe line circuit from interru ting the arcs from the anodes and thus ren ering the tube non-conductive. After the rectifier has been started 1n the I manner above' described the pressure impressed on the anodes 2 and 3 by the floating secondary 7 causes current .to flow unidirectionally through the rectifier tube to the cathode 4:, and thence through reactance 11 to a suitable consumption-circuit 14.

I have illustrated the consumption circuit as embodyin a plurality of arclamps connected in series, but it should be understood.

that this circuit may include a motor or in fact any apparatus adapted .to operate on constant current. A switch .15 is connected to one side of this consumption circuit in such a manner that when closed it affords a path from the consumption circuit to the central tap 16 of the floating secondary coil 7, so. that the load 14: may be operated by rectifier 1 entirely independent of the other rectifier shown in the figures. If desired the switches 17 and 18 may be-closed to introduce the rectifier 19 in series with rectifier 1. This second rectifier 19 is in all respects similar to the rectifier previously described, but is operated by energy derived from an entirely separate and independent source, such as a second alternator 20, which if desired may be of more or less different frequency and different voltage from. the alternator 8.

When-the rectifiers; are operating in series as shown in the figure the current which passes through rectifier 1 traverses the load 14 to a neutral tap of the floating secondary coil 22, and from the terminals of this coil it passes to anodes 23 and 24 and then to cathode 25 and back to the central tap 16 of coil 7, thus completing thecircuit to rectifier l.

By suitably arranging the switches 15, 17, 18 and 26 the two rectifier sets may be operated independently or inseries so that in case of an overload on one the other may be added to properly distribute the load. I find that in making such changes in the loading of the circuit it is not necessary to have the two sources of power 8 and 20 in synchronism or in phase, and that all ordinary adjustments of load such as are commonly practiced with Brush series are machines may be performed with the apparatus just described. I

Fig. 2 shows a special connection by which a constant potential may be impressed on the auxiliary anodes to maintain the rectifier constantly conductive irrespective of current fluctuations in the constant current coil of ,the tube transformer.

An alternator 27 is connected to the stationary primary 28 of a constant current transformer having a sccondary 29 connected to the rectifier 30 in the usual way through a load 31 and reactance ,1

32. The primary 28 is provided with a central tap 33 connected through the reactan'ce 32 to the mercury cathode 34, and is also provided with two taps 35 and 36 located on either side of the central tap and serving instep-down the voltage to a-value lower than that of the entire primary winding 28:-The vratio of transformation is substantially the ratio of the total number of turns to the number of turns included between taps 35 and 36. This step-down connection is commonly known as a compensator connection. spectively connected to the auxiliary anodes 37 and 38. The taps 35' and 36 are so disposed on the coil 28 that a moderate voltage is impressed on the auxiliary anodes 37 and 38 thus obviating the danger of a destruclive short circuit at the lower end of the tube. I have shown a three-pole switch 39 the exciter leads and I contemplate opening this switch after the rectifier has been started as I find that when the constant cur rent transformer coil 29 is properly designed it has sufiicient reactive effect on the current supplied to the anodes 40 and 41 to bridge over the point of zero current so that the rectifier will maintain itself in a continuously conductive condition without the use of the auxiliary anodes 37and 38. It is sometimes desirable, however, when the rectifier is running on light load, or when it is subjected to serious fluctuations in the loadresistance to leave the switch 39 closed so that the auxiliary anodes are in continuous oporation.

Fig. 3 shows the same general system as Fig. 1 except that the rectifier units are of the specific type illustrated in detail in Fig. 2. The stationary primaries 42 and Q3 of the constant current transformers are provided with taps for supplying current to the auxiliary anodes of the rectifiers 44 and 45. The movable secondaries L6 and 47 are connected with their corresponding anodes and operate as explained in connection with Fig.2.

If desired a Brush series are machine of proper current capacity may be substituted for the rectifier 1.9 of Fig. 1, or for the rectifier of Fig. 3 and may be used as a booster to relieve the overload on the other rectifier. Such a system is illustrated in Fig. 4. The alternator 48 supplies energ to the constant current transformer -l-$) and that transformer supplies substantially constant current through rectifier 50 to the. consumption circuit 51. The Brush generator 52 is illustrated diagrammatically and is provided with the usual regulating devices /and means for cutting it in circuit to operate as a booster. \Vhat I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is, 1. "The con'ibination of independent sources of energy, a consumption circuit, a vapor rectifier having its cathode connected with said circuit for supplying current from one of said sources, means for maintaining said current substantially constant, and means for simultaneously supplyingadditional en- The taps 35 and 36 are reergy to said z'onsump tion circuit from an-' other of said independent sources.

2. The combination of independent sources of energy, a consumption circuit, a vapor rectifier for supplying current to said circuit from one of said sources, a movable coil ,iransformerfoii maintaining said current alternating current sources, mercury'recti fiers having anodes supplied with energy from said sources, and means for connectingsaid rectifiers in series to supply current to said consumption circuit.

5. The combination of a plurality of sepa .rate and independent alternating current sources-vapor rectifiers supplied with energy from said sources, a consumption circuit,

means for connecting said rectifiers in-series on said consum )tion circuit, and means .for maintaining su stantia'lly constant current. in said consumption circuit. a v

6. The combination of a plurality of separate and independent alternating current sources, movable coil transformers connected thereto, vapor r'ectifiers having anodes receiving current from said transformers, a consumption circuit, means for connecting said rectifiers'in series on'said' consumption circuit, and means for maintaining" substantially constant current in said consumption 7. The combination of-a plurality of separate and independent current sources operating at difi'erent frequencies, a 'vapor rectifier receiving energy from one of said sources, a consumption circuit supplied by current from said rectifier, and means for 'simultaneously supplying energy from.

another of sa d sources to said consumption circuit.

8. The combination ofa pluralityof alternating current sources operating at different frequencies, a consumption circuit,. and vapor rectifiers for simultaneously supplying energy to saidv consumptioncircuit from said sources. Y

' 9. The combination of a plurality of alternating current sources operating at different a source of alternating current, a trials frequencies, a consumption circuit, and vapor rectifiers connected in series for supplying energy from said sources to said consumption circuit.

10. The combination of a plurality of alternating current sources operable at different frequencies, a consumption circuit having a plural ty of sections, vapor recti- 'fiers connected between said sections for supplying energy from said sources to said consumption circuit, and means for maintaining substantially "constant the current carried bysaid consumption circuit.

11. The combinatlon of a vapor rectifier having a cathode and a plurality of anodes.

a source of'altcrnating current, aconstant current transformer receiving energy from said source and delivering current to said rectifier, connections "between one winding of said transformer and onepair of said rectifier anodes, and connections between taps on another winding of said transformer and another pair of said rectifier anodes.

12. The combination of independent sources of energy, a consumption circuit, a vapor rectifier for supplying current thereto from one of said sources, means for maintaining said current'substantially constant and means for boosting the voltage of sai consumption circuit with energy derived from another of said sources 0 crating at different voltage and different equency.

13..The combination of a vapor rectifier having a cathode and a plurality of anodes, a transformer, a source of alternating current "supplyin energy through said transformer to sai rectifier, a compensator connection on onewinding of said transformer 'for supplying energy to at least one of said anodes, a consumption circuit receiving energy from sald rectifier, and boosting means connected. in said consumption circuit. I

14. The combination of a vapor rectifier havlng a cathode and a plurality of anodes,

former receiving. energy .from said source' and delivering currentto at least one of said anodes, taps from'a windin of saidtransformer connected to two '0 said anodes, a: consumptlon circuit connected tosaid cathode, and a source of direct current in serles with said consumption circuit and supplying energy thereto.

'- In w tness whereof I have hereunto set handthis second day of August, 1905. CHARLES Mxennnu.

. Witnesses: f

JOHN A. McMANUs Jr., James 

